The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) is warning employers of an e-mail scam in which employers in various states, including Hawaii, are receiving e-mails that claim to be from the Massachusetts or New York “Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA).” The emails declare that former employee(s) have filed unemployment claims and request the employer to open an attachment and/or access a weblink for purposes of providing confidential employment information.

Sample of the email

This is an identify theft scam. Do not open the attachment or otherwise respond to it. The Hawaii Unemployment Insurance Division does not request information on behalf of other states, nor does it request confidential employment information in this manner.

Big Island police have charged a 33-year-old Hilo man with a variety of offenses following his arrest Monday (November 19) in Hilo.

Around 6 p.m. Monday, police received a report of a trespasser on the property of a business on Wainaku Street in Hilo.

Samuel J. K. Delosantos

Responding officers made contact with Samuel J. K. Delosantos, who was still on the property. Delosantos repeatedly threatened the officers and charged at them while holding a shovel and a large knife.

After a brief standoff, Delosantos was arrested for terroristic threatening and on an outstanding bench warrant. Further investigation determined that Delosantos had made forced entry into a building and damaged numerous items on the property.

After conferring with prosecutors, police charged Delosantos at 5:54 p.m. Tuesday with second-degree burglary, second-degree criminal property damage and three counts of terroristic threatening. His bail was set at $10,000. He was held in the Hilo police cellblock pending his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon (November 21).

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a public meeting for a proposed public shooting range at Pu‘u Anahulu, in the North Kona district of the Island of Hawai‘i.

The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public of the progress of the shooting range master plan and draft environmental assessment.

The informational meeting will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4, at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center’s Community Meeting Hale at 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kailua-Kona.

Funding for a master plan and environmental assessment has been secured through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson Act).

The project site is comprised of one square mile (approximately 640 acres) within TMK (3) 7-1-003:001 located within the Pu‘u Anahulu Game Management area and mauka of Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway. The site is located immediately adjacent to the West Hawai‘i sanitary landfill.

Range elements are anticipated to include public rifle, pistol, bow hunting/archery, sporting clays, skeet, trap and airgun ranges that conform to safety requirements and are consistent with and meet the niches for recreational hunting and shooting sports. Supporting facilities are expected to include structures to house management and operations, as well as a hunter education center, restrooms, picnic areas and parking.

For more information about the project or public meeting, contact Catie Cullison at PBR Hawaii & Associates, Inc. at (808) 521-5631 or ccullison@pbrhawaii.com

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) and the state’s Injury Prevention Advisory Committee are releasing the most comprehensive data available on fatal and non-fatal injuries in Hawai‘i since 2006.

Click to see plan

The report, “Injuries in Hawai‘i 2007-2011,” includes detailed statistics by county and is being released in conjunction with the state’s five-year plan to reduce and prevent the most prevalent and serious injuries occurring in Hawai‘i. These highest areas of concern for Hawai‘i include: drowning, falls, poisoning, suicide, traffic accidents, and violence and abuse.

The report provides an extensive analysis of the major causes, mechanisms and outcomes of injuries in the state including detailed descriptions of their impact in each of the counties. “Compiling and evaluating this data is a huge undertaking for our injury prevention staff and well worth the effort,” said Health Director Loretta Fuddy. “The report is invaluable for charting the course to prevent injuries that are a major cause of death and hospitalization in Hawai‘i.”

Injuries take the lives of more Hawai‘i residents ages 1-39 years than all other causes of death combined, including heart disease, stroke and cancer, according to the newly released data. Among residents of all ages, injuries are the third leading cause of death, with the greatest contribution coming from suicides, falls, drug poisonings, motor vehicle crashes, and ocean drownings. During an average week in Hawai‘i, 12 residents die from an injury, 115 more are hospitalized, and another 1,530 are treated in emergency departments.

“The report included two new DOH data sources from the Hawai‘i Emergency Medical Services Information System and the State Trauma Registry,” said Dr. Linda Rosen, chief of the Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch. “The addition of this new data makes this year’s report the most comprehensive we have ever released and takes us another step closer to understanding and preventing sometimes fatal and often serious injuries.”

The report contains both good and bad news for the islands. “Hawai‘i residents have lower per capita rates of fatal and nonfatal injuries compared to residents of other states,” said

Daniel Galanis, DOH injury prevention epidemiologist and author of the report. “We’re also glad to see that there was a significantly decreasing trend in the number of residents killed in car crashes; however, we are concerned about the increasing trends in the number of residents who died by suicide or drug poisonings.”

To address injury as a critical public health concern, the DOH worked closely with the Injury Prevention Advisory Committee (IPAC) and other state, county and community partners on the “Hawai‘i Injury Prevention Plan 2012-2017.” IPAC is a statewide network of representatives from various fields and organizations working together since 1990 to prevent injuries. Developed with the consensus of these partners, the new prevention plan makes clear recommendations for each of the leading causes of injury in Hawai‘i. Building on the accomplishment of the previous five-year plan, recommendations are based on Hawai‘i-specific data and the most effective safety practices in the injury field.

“The next steps included for each of the injury areas in the plan provide a stimulus for organizations, agencies and community groups to collaborate on actions to take in preventing injuries,” said Bruce McEwan, chair of the Injury Prevention Advisory Committee,

For a copy of the “Injuries in Hawai‘i 2007-2011” and the “Hawai‘i Injury Prevention Plan 2012-2017”, visit the DOH web site at www.hawaii.gov/health.

Queens’ MarketPlace continues to grow and evolve, as new and expanding businesses enhance the total shopping experience of the popular Waikoloa Beach Resort mall. Recently opened Harry Wishard Gallery and Century 21 All Islands, plus a larger space for Blue Wilderness Dive Adventures, bring additional fine Hawaii arts, real estate services and ocean activities into the Queens’ MarketPlace ‘ohana, just in time for the holiday season.

“We are feeling a recent sense of energy and optimism,” said Waikoloa Beach Resort Vice President of Resort Operations Scott Head, “These three new venues, plus Ippy’s and Lemongrass Express restaurants joining us soon, each bring their own excitement into Waikoloa. And as visitors, kama‘āina and our seasonal ‘snow birds’ come to Queens’ MarketPlace to check out what’s new, it’s going to be a lot of fun, and good for all of us.”

From mauka to makai, acclaimed Hawaii artist Harry Wishard brings the fine works of art that delighted upcountry Waimea customers into a second location by the ocean at Queens’ MarketPlace. Open since early November, the Gallery features Wishard’s evocative oil paintings of Hawaii and around the world, in addition to an eclectic group of fine Hawaii artists such as Kathy Long, Victoria McCormick, Lynn Capell, Mary Koski, Ed Kayton and other favorite island artists. For more information, visit www.harrywishard.com or call 769-5077

For those vacationers daydreaming about their own “home away from home” in Hawaii, Century 21 All Islands stands ready to assist. Broker-in-Charge Charlie Perry says their independently-owned Century 21 office is happy to assist with beautiful vacation or second homes, investment properties, condos or townhouses. Within the Resort or elsewhere, they welcome opportunities to show their wide variety of listings, and assist sellers of homes as well. For more information, visit www.hawaiimoves.com or call 808-883-3321.

Enhancing its already engaging location in Queens’ MarketPlace, Blue Wilderness Dive Adventures expands its retail space with a great selection of underwater cameras and equipment, diver’s watches, dive and snorkel gear, UV sunwear and beach necessities from the best names in diving: AquaLung, Suunto, Excel and more. Their top-rated ocean adventures include daily charters with snorkel ride-along, dive instruction and PADI certifications, one- or two-tank daytime dives and black water night dives along the vibrant Kohala Coast. And, for those who like to adventure on their own, Blue Wilderness offers dive and snorkel equipment, surfboards and boogie boards for rent as well. For complete information and reservations, visit www.divebluewilderness.com or call 886-0980.

Since it opened in 2007, Queens’ MarketPlace in Waikoloa Beach Resort has earned a reputation among visitors and kama’āina as “the gathering place of the Kohala Coast,” full of shopping opportunities, services and great food, along with entertainment and arts programs, movies under the stars and contemporary concerts in Waikoloa Bowl at Queens’ Gardens. For more information, visit www.QueensMarketPlace.net or call 886-8822.

Architect or Structural Engineer’s Seal No Longer Required for PV Building Plans

A recent change in Section 9-33, Chapter 9 of the Hawai‘i County electrical code removes the requirement for an architect or structural engineer’s seal on building plans and specs for residential photovoltaic installations. The change, signed into law under ordinance 12-149 by Mayor Billy Kenoi, became effective November 8, 2012.

“With this change in the electrical code, homeowners and installers can get photovoltaic systems on homes more quickly. Residential photovoltaic systems are an important part of reducing our island’s dependence on imported fuels and easing the burden of high electricity prices on our Hawai‘i Island families,” said Mayor Kenoi.

The law did not change the requirement for an architect or structural engineer’s seal on building plans and specs for non-residential photovoltaic installations. Building and electrical permits are still required for residential and non-residential photovoltaic installations, as well as an electrical engineer’s stamp for electrical design drawings.

Electrical and building applications may be completed and tracked online through the Papa Aukahi web portal at papaaukahi.hawaiicounty.gov. Public computers within the Hilo and Kona Building Division Offices are available to create and track online permit applications.

Front desk support for permit applications is 7:45 AM to 3:30 PM Monday – Friday, with the exception of Wednesday (Hilo) and Thursday (Kona), when the desk closes at noon. All other Public Works divisions remain available weekdays until 4:30 p.m. for code questions, consultation, and drop off and pick up for plans and permits.